Problem
Cronyism
Other Names:
Old boy networksPolitical placemen
Nature:
Cronyism is a specific form of in-group favoritism, the spoils system practice of partiality in awarding jobs and other advantages to friends or trusted colleagues, especially in politics and between politicians and supportive organizations. For example, cronyism occurs when appointing "cronies" to positions of authority regardless of their qualifications. This is in contrast to a meritocracy, in which appointments are made based on merit. Politically, "cronyism" is derogatorily used to imply buying and selling favors, such as votes in legislative bodies, as doing favors to organizations, or giving desirable ambassadorships to exotic places.
Incidence:
Media coverage of President Clinton in the USA stressed the extent to which he relied on "Friends of Bill" many of whom were duly hired as White House aides. The Whitewater scandal concerning his earlier financial and political arrangements in Arkansas noted the extent to which state politics there was characterized by cozy relationships between politics and business. Narrower Problems:
Legislative favouritism Aggravates:
NepotismCorruptionInterlocking corporate directoratesAbusive distribution of political patronageUnethical practices of public service employees Strategies:
Networking cronies Values:
Cronyism Subject(s):
→ Networks??Education → Graduates??
Government → Political??
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
01.01.2000 – 00:00 CET